Inglewood social housing residents need support despite anti-social behaviour, advocates say
Western Australia's leading social services organisation is calling for more support for social housing residents amid an outcry over the antisocial behaviour of a small group of people living in public housing in inner-city Inglewood.
Inglewood residents have told ABC News they feel unsafe in their own homes, citing assaults and intimidatory behaviour in and around a social housing complex, which saw an influx of residents last year.
Far from being considered a dangerous suburb, Inglewood, about four kilometres from the CBD, boasts a number of popular cafes and other local businesses, as well as some sought-after real estate.
But the community has been speaking out after a number of recent incidents, including an alleged attack on a man in a car park over the weekend, the smashing of a unit window on Ninth Avenue, and numerous reports of aggressive behaviour and loud noises during the night.
A number of people within the social housing complex spoke of their fear of living alongside what they say is a small minority who have been causing trouble and threatening retribution on those who contact authorities about their behaviour.
But the WA Council of Social Service says demonising social housing residents is dangerous and counterproductive, and has urged authorities to focus on a solutions-based approach, focused on providing better support for those within social housing, as well as other nearby residents.
WACOSS president and Anglicare WA chief executive Mark Glasson said blaming residents won't solve anything.
"What we need to do is understand who are the people that are involved in this, and what do they need?" Mr Glasson said.
"It might be that there are some supports that are available that can be put into that location to support those people so that they don't need to commit crime.
"It might be that we need a police response.
"But we can't say that the incidents of crime can only be resolved by closing social housing."
He said housing was a basic need.
"Everyone needs a place to live, everyone needs a place to call home, and some people do it really tough, and we need to recognise that for them, they need extra help," he said.
Shelter WA chief executive Kath Snell backed calls for a stronger focus on support services for social housing residents and said everyone in the community would benefit.
"We really want to make sure that people are safe in their homes, everyone is safe in their own communities and neighbourhoods, and that's including people who live in social housing and their neighbours," Ms Snell said.
"And we think that a real way to support that is to be able to provide the right services that they need.
"That might be mental health services, it might be services that help people retain their tenancy, or it might be anything around drug and alcohol support, it's not always those things, it just depends on the individual."
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